Governor General Michaelle Jean is headed to the United Nations, CTV News has learned.Video report by Bob Fife here.
Jean will be appointed special envoy for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reported Monday night.
"Her main goal is to fight poverty and Haiti's appallingly high illiteracy (rate)," Fife said. "She'll not only spend time in Haiti, but also travel the globe to keep the world's eyes focused on Haiti and to raise funds."
The prime minister "went to bat to get her this high-profile job," which starts in late September, Fife said.
UNESCO, as the agency is known, has a broad mandate.
"UNESCO's mission is to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information," says a statement on the agency's website.
Canada is one of 182 member states to have a permanent delegation with the organization.
PM Harper has been lobbying on behalf of Michealle Jean for this new job. Will Mr. Ziffy approve?
Anyway she has been a fantastic GG and I will miss her. She will do an extraordinary job helping the people of Haiti.
Even though I had miss givings at first, she has grown on me and has exceeded my expectations. I quite admire her for what she accomplished as Commander in Chief.
I pray God's blessings on Ms. Jean in her new venture! She has served our country well! I thank Ms. Jean for her service to our country!
Update: PM Harper congratulates Ms. Jean on her new post.
She will sparkle for Haiti, her heart was never in Canada.
ReplyDeleteGood one...great to get on this and get it reported. *thumbs up*
ReplyDeleteGood for Ms. Jean. I hope she can cut through the U.N.s stifling bureaucracy and apply some of her common sense approach to getting things done in that poor nation. She has served us well and I wish her all the best.
ReplyDeleteIf one could search all the comments and articles written when this earthquake hit, and the GG's reaction, there were suggestions that she be appointed as a special envoy for Haiti. So, the PM has been working for months on this. Too bad iggy didn't think of this instead of trying to promote her for a longer term.
ReplyDeleteNow he will have to hope our new GG will be more open to a coalition to overthrow our govt.
Ain't going to happen.
She will sparkle for Haiti, her heart was never in Canada.
ReplyDeleteI have to respectfully disagree with you Simeon. Here's just a couple of examples of her dedication to Canada. She has fully supported our military. Remember when she went to the north and ate that raw seal heart? She saved the country from the coalition of the losers coup d'état. If you don't call that dedication to Canada, I don't know what.
Congratulations to Mme Jean - her talent, personality and experience as GG will give her many opportunities to make a difference on the world stage. The Liberals were so concerned for her future - how paternalistic, how droll. They wanted to restrict her to the Canadian political stage when the world was waiting for her to finish her obligations to Canada. Ignatieff wanted a foil for his pathetic coalition mess. Well done Mme Jean.
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